The German philosopher Erich Fromm once said, “I am convinced that boredom is one of the greatest tortures. If I were to imagine Hell, it would be the place where you were continually bored.”  

I must admit there’s something very true about that.

When I’m bored, I kind of feel like nothing in life makes any sense. Time stretches on, and there I am, lying on the sofa and staring at the ceiling, doing absolutely nothing.

Fortunately, I don’t get bored all that often. Almost never, actually.

“Why? And how?” you may be asking.

Good question.

Let’s jump right in!

People who never complain about being bored usually possess these 7 unique strengths.

1) They have a vast imagination

Ever since I can remember, I’ve been a very imaginative person.

From dreaming up my own fictional stories with dozens of different plot twists to creating magical landscapes and animals in my mind, my imagination is quite rich and vast, allowing me to spend a great deal of time in my head and always stay entertained.

In fact, I sometimes tend to get so swallowed up by the daydreams I conjure up in my mind that I pay no attention to my surroundings whatsoever. My friends like to say it’s like I’m on a different planet when these daydreams fall over me.

The most fascinating thing about the human imagination is that it’s essentially endless. As Jean-Jacques Rousseau once said, “The world of reality has its limits; the world of imagination is boundless.”

If you can keep yourself entertained and fascinated by your own thoughts and ideas, it becomes very difficult to get bored.

2) They’re inherently curious about the world around them

Even people who aren’t lost in fictional worlds of their own making can have fun, of course.

How so?

Just look at the world around you. There is so much to see, learn about, and experience on planet Earth, from exploring new countries to watching new documentaries, getting to know new people, or absorbing new information.

And thanks to the internet, it’s all at your fingertips.

It all begins with a single question.

Why?

Why does X happen? Why does X affect Y? And why are A and B connected?

Ask yourself a question and get googling.

Use your curiosity to save yourself from boredom.

3) They aren’t afraid to try new things

Speaking of curiosity, there’s an insane number of ways you can explore who you are and pick up new skills or hobbies – if only you’re willing to become a beginner, embarrass yourself a tiny bit, and step outside your comfort zone.

In the past year, I’ve tried bouldering, dancing, knitting, working out at the gym, and baking bread, just to name a few.

And while some of these hobbies have stuck and others I’ve discarded, I’ve had an amazing time getting to know myself and expanding my horizons.

People who never complain about being bored are always up for trying new things. That’s literally it.

If you get bored for a bit but then decide to go for a hot yoga or pick up embroidery, that’s your boredom successfully thrown out of the window.

Just like that.

4) They don’t mind being on their own

I know what you’re probably thinking.

“Well, hot yoga sounds great, but what if I have no one to go with, huh? What then?”

Here’s a radical idea: go on your own.

Yes, it sounds scary as hell. Yes, you’ll probably feel anxious and uncomfortable. But once you give it a try – and once you keep trying – you’ll soon realize that doing things on your own is actually not bad at all.

In fact, it can be very fun, and what’s more, people are more likely to approach you and become friends with you when they can see that you’re not part of any group.

I love to travel solo, for example. While staying in hostels, I’ve met some incredible people and have managed to rid myself of social anxiety that I’d been struggling with for years.

You know what else I’ve done on my own?

I’ve gone on a group tour. I’ve gone to the cinema and the theatre. I’ve even beaten the final boss and ordered a meal for one at a fancy restaurant.

Do people look at me weird sometimes? Sure.

But more often than not, no one gives a damn. Everyone’s too preoccupied living their own lives to care about mine.

5) They don’t chase easy dopamine hits

Alright, let’s get to the bottom of the issue.

Do you know why some people get bored so easily?

Because they’re so used to getting easy dopamine hits that once they’re met with too little stimulation or novelty, they find themselves unable to appreciate the beauty of everyday life.

Take video games, for example. Since playing a video game releases a great deal of dopamine, ordinary life may seem boring in comparison, leading to an obsession with video games and possibly even an addiction.

The easiest way to prevent boredom is to stop seeking novelty and excitement at every corner.

In other words, it’s to embrace boredom as a valid and important experience of its own. It’s to appreciate life’s casual magic.

6) They stay physically active

Do you know that feeling when you’ve been rotting in bed and binge-watching a TV show all day, and by the end of it all, you feel even more exhausted?

Yeah. Contrary to popular belief, physical activity often gives us – rather than depletes us of – energy.

If you’re feeling tired, a twenty-minute walk or a fifteen-minute jog may actually give you a nice little kick of energy and help you power through the day.

Experts say so themselves.

According to Mayo Clinic Staff, “Regular physical activity can improve your muscle strength and boost your endurance. Exercise sends oxygen and nutrients to your tissues and helps your cardiovascular system work more efficiently. And when your heart and lung health improve, you have more energy to tackle daily chores.”

Oftentimes, boredom is the byproduct of passivity.

Get active and feel your boredom melt away.

7) They have a problem-solving mindset

Finally, the main reason some people never complain about being bored is that when they do, indeed, get bored, they decide to do something about it.

They don’t just wallow in misery and pity themselves.

On the contrary, they go through different options in their heads and try to find the best solution to the current problem, from calling a friend if they want to hang out to reading a fun book or going to a last-minute pottery class.

If they encounter an issue, they solve it.

And if boredom is solvable, why would you willingly remain trapped in it?

Exactly.

So, the next time you get bored, ask yourself: “What can I do to get unstuck?”

The next step is to take concrete action. Don’t just think about it.

Do it.